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Published 12:50 14 Jun 2026 GMT
A Brazilian city is planning to take legal action over safety concerns at a popular bridge attraction after a 21-year-old woman was allegedly launched from a rope jump platform without a safety rope attached.
Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas died on Saturday morning after falling from a height of around 40 meters from Ponte do Esqueleto, known as Skeleton Bridge, in Limeira, São Paulo.
According to Military Police and witness accounts, employees operating the attraction may have forgotten to secure the rope before Maria was pushed from the platform.
Disturbing footage circulating on social media reportedly captured the horrifying moments before and after the jump.
In the video, the young woman is seen being escorted toward the structure by staff members before being launched from the platform. Seconds later, panic erupts among those present.
Per reports, witnesses heard people urgently yelling: "The rope, people, the rope," cited by The Sun.
Emergency crews from the Fire Department and Mobile Emergency Care Service (SAMU) rushed to the scene, but Maria was pronounced dead.
Hours before the tragedy, Maria documented her visit to the attraction on social media.
The 21-year-old, from Jandira in São Paulo state, shared photos of the bridge, identification wristbands for the activity, and images of company staff carrying out jumps using proper safety equipment.
One Instagram story featured a banner belonging to the company operating at the site.
Alongside the image, she wrote: "Who was the crazy person who let me jump off a bridge???"
Maria's fiancé was reportedly at the bridge when the accident happened and required medical assistance after learning of her death.
Police said six people were arrested following the incident as investigators worked to determine exactly how the alleged safety failure occurred.
Police also confirmed that two men fled the scene immediately after the accident and were later located in a wooded area with assistance from the Águia police helicopter, Bored Panda reported.
Three people reportedly remained in custody as the investigation continued.
The case has since been transferred to the 2nd Police District of Limeira.
The men seen in videos from the scene appeared to be wearing shirts associated with the companies Entre Cordas and Ih Voei.
At the time of reporting, neither company had publicly commented on the incident.
Following the tragedy, Limeira City Hall announced plans to sue the Federal Government, arguing that officials had failed to address long-standing safety concerns surrounding Ponte do Esqueleto.
According to city officials, responsibility for inspections, maintenance, and access control at the bridge falls under federal authorities.
The city claimed repeated requests for safety measures had gone unanswered. "No concrete action has been taken," the administration said.
Mayor Murilo Félix said the fatal accident had highlighted concerns that had existed for years.
"Unfortunately, the federal government's omission has just resulted in yet another tragedy in Limeira," he said.
He also added: "It is necessary to determine responsibility for the lack of access control to a federal area that has presented known risks for years and still lacks the necessary protection measures."
Officials say the investigation must not only determine how Maria was allegedly launched without a safety rope attached, but also whether enough had been done to prevent known dangers at the site.
Despite the fatal accident, future events at Ponte do Esqueleto were reportedly still being promoted online in the days that followed.
The attraction had been charging R$180 (around $35) per jump and had additional dates scheduled, including an event planned for July 11.
Published 08:59 14 Jun 2026 GMT
Warning: This article may contain some distressing information.
A 21-year-old Brazilian woman tragically died after she was allegedly thrown from a bridge swing without being connected to a safety rope.
Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, 21, was taking part in a thrill-seeking activity at Ponte do Esqueleto, also known as Skeleton Bridge, in Limeira, São Paulo, on Saturday (June 13) morning.
Disturbing footage shared online shows Maria being carried by two workers in a Superman-style pose before being launched from the bridge.
Moments later, voices can be heard shouting: "The rope, people, the rope," The Sun reported.
According to witnesses and information provided by Military Police, staff allegedly failed to connect the safety equipment to Maria's harness before she was released.
She fell more than 131 feet to the ground while horrified employees looked on.
Just hours before the accident, the woman, who was from nearby Jandira, shared her excitement about the jump on social media.
In a series of posts, she documented her arrival at the attraction, shared pictures of her identification bracelets, and even posted images of company representatives involved in the event.
In one heartbreaking post alongside a photo of the company banner "Entre Cordas", she wrote: "Who was the crazy person who let me jump off a bridge?"
Maria held a degree in physical education and sports management and was a supporter of Santos Football Club, per News.com.au.
Firefighters, paramedics, and emergency responders rushed to the scene, but Maria was pronounced dead.
Her body was later transferred to the Legal Medical Institute as authorities launched an investigation, per The Mirror.
According to reports, her fiancé was also present at the bridge and required medical attention after becoming ill when he learned she had died.
Police have revealed that six people were arrested at the scene following the incident.
In addition to this, the Limeira City Council confirmed it will file a complaint against the Brazilian federal government.
"It is necessary to determine responsibility for the lack of access control to a federal area that has presented known risks for years and still lacks the necessary protection measures," said Limeira mayor Murilo Félix.
Following Maria's death, future events at the same location were still being advertised online.
The company had been charging R$180 ($35.42) per jump and had upcoming dates listed for Ponte do Esqueleto, including an event scheduled for July 11.
Additional activities were also advertised in Rio Claro and Minas Gerais, with prices ranging from R$210 to R$250.
Published 11:23 14 Jun 2026 GMT
A 21-year-old woman tragically lost her life after allegedly being launched from a bridge swing attraction without being connected to a safety rope.
Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas was taking part in an extreme adventure activity at Ponte do Esqueleto, or Skeleton Bridge, in Limeira, São Paulo, on the morning of June 13.
Footage circulating online reportedly shows Maria being positioned in a Superman-style pose by two staff members before being released from the bridge. Seconds later, panic broke out.
According to a report by The Sun, voices can be heard urgently shouting: "The rope, people, the rope."
Witnesses and information provided by Military Police suggest that employees may have failed to attach the safety line to Maria's harness before she was sent off the platform, before she fell over 100 feet to her death, while workers watched helplessly.
Just before the fatal incident, Maria had shared her excitement about the experience on social media.
The 21-year-old, who was from the nearby city of Jandira, posted updates documenting her arrival at the attraction, including photos of her access wristbands and images connected to the event organizers.
In a post that has since taken on heartbreaking significance, Maria shared a photo featuring the banner of the company "Entre Cordas" and jokingly wrote: "Who was the crazy person who let me jump off a bridge?"
According to reports, Maria held a degree in physical education and sports management and was a dedicated supporter of Santos Football Club.
Emergency crews, including firefighters and paramedics, rushed to the scene following the accident, but despite their efforts, Maria was pronounced dead.
Her body was later transferred to the Legal Medical Institute as authorities began investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Reports indicate that Maria's fiancé was present at the bridge when the accident occurred. He reportedly became ill after learning of her death and required medical assistance.
Police confirmed that six people were arrested at the scene as part of the ongoing investigation.
The tragedy has also sparked concerns about safety measures at the location.
Limeira City Council announced plans to file a complaint with Brazil's federal government over what officials describe as longstanding safety concerns in the area.
Mayor Murilo Félix said: "It is necessary to determine responsibility for the lack of access control to a federal area that has presented known risks for years and still lacks the necessary protection measures."
Despite the fatal accident, future events at Ponte do Esqueleto were reportedly still being promoted online in the days afterward.
The attraction had been charging R$180 (approximately $35) per jump and had additional dates scheduled, including an event planned for July 11.
The company was also advertising similar activities in Rio Claro and Minas Gerais, with participation fees ranging between R$210 and R$250.
Authorities continue to investigate how the alleged safety failure occurred and who may ultimately be held responsible.
Published 09:25 14 Jun 2026 GMT
Warning: This article may contain some distressing information.
A heartbreaking social media post shared by a woman just hours before her death has taken on a haunting new meaning after a fatal bridge jump accident in Brazil.
As previously reported, Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, 21, tragically passed away on Saturday morning after she was allegedly launched from a bridge without being connected to a safety rope.
The tragedy, which took place at Ponte do Esqueleto, also known as Skeleton Bridge, in Limeira, São Paulo, has sparked an investigation and led to multiple arrests. Still, many have been left focused on a message Maria posted shortly before the accident.
Before taking part in the activity, the late woman documented her day on social media, sharing photos from the site and showing followers the identification bracelets she had received for the jump.
She also posted pictures of company representatives involved in the event.
In one post alongside a photo of a company banner for Entre Cordas, Maria wrote: "Who was the crazy person who let me jump off a bridge?" The Sun reported.
Disturbing footage shared online appears to show Maria, who was from nearby Jandira, being carried toward the edge of the bridge by two staff members in a Superman-style pose.
According to witnesses and information provided by Military Police, a safety rope had allegedly not been attached to her harness before she was released.
Moments after she was launched from the bridge, voices can be heard shouting: "The rope, people, the rope."
Maria fell more than 131 feet to the ground while horrified staff looked on.
Emergency responders, firefighters, and paramedics rushed to the scene, but she was pronounced dead.
According to reports, her fiancé was also present and required medical attention after becoming ill upon learning she had died.
Military Police said Maria was participating in an activity organized by a private company when the accident occurred.
Six people were arrested at the scene following the tragedy.
The Civil Police have since launched an investigation and will determine whether to bring criminal charges against anyone involved.
Limeira City Council has also announced plans to file a complaint against the Brazilian federal government.
"It is necessary to determine responsibility for the lack of access control to a federal area that has presented known risks for years and still lacks the necessary protection measures," said Mayor Murilo Félix, per The Mirror.
Our thoughts are with Maria's loved ones at this time.
Published 17:05 09 Feb 2022 GMT
A woman in Florida has tragically passed away after the draw bridge she was walking on opened beneath her.
As reported by NBC News affiliate WPTV, the older woman - whose name has not been made public - was walking with her bicycle along the Royal Park Bridge on Sunday. However, she was unable to make it across safely after the bridge started to go up.
West Palm Beach police have stated that she was just 10 feet away from the end of the bridge when she fell to her death through a gap in the road.
An investigation is now underway.
More on this tragic story in the video below:Mike Jachles, a spokesperson for West Palm Beach police, said in a statement: "The woman tried to hang on. There was a bystander nearby who tried to help her, but tragically she fell five or six stories below where she died landing on concrete."
Jachles also spoke about the safety protocols that are in place on the manned bridge, adding:
"There is a bridge tender, and that bridge tender has certain safety protocols to follow, specific safety protocols [...] that includes lowering of the gates for the vehicles, lowering of the gates for the pedestrians, and making several visual confirmations that there is nobody at either of the spans or past those gates."
"The bridge tender actually comes out onto the catwalk, and walks around and does a visual inspection to make sure there are no cars or pedestrians or anyone else on the portion of the bridge on the inside of the gates that goes up." Jachles added.
Speaking to CNN affiliate WPBF, Jachles added that part of the investigation will "determine whether procedure was followed or whether this woman crossed after the signals were down."
Juan Orellana, an advocate for bicycle safety in the area, revealed that Royal Park Bridge is the most frequented bridge used by cyclists when crossing from Palm Beach Island to the mainland.
He also added that the bridge features alarms and barriers to help alert any pedestrians when the bridge is being prepared to rise.
"For one thing you will hear the bell even before the arms go down, so when you hear the bell you gotta get out of the way before the bridge goes up," Orellana said.
Speaking to WPTV, some residents have said that they have always felt safe on the bridge, while others did call for better signage to warn crossers.
Published 12:47 14 Oct 2024 GMT
A British influencer has died after falling from Spain's highest bridge while attempting to film social media content.
The incident occurred early in the morning on October 13 when the man plunged from the 630ft Castilla-La Mancha Bridge, located in Talavera de la Reina, approximately 90 minutes southwest of Madrid.
Local authorities have confirmed the tragedy, emphasizing that access to the bridge is strictly prohibited, per the Daily Mail.
The unnamed 26-year-old influencer was attempting to climb the bridge when the incident occurred.
A spokesperson for Spain's National Police provided details of the incident, revealing that he was approximately 40 to 50 meters high, around a quarter of the bridge’s total height, when he fell. The cause of his fall remains unclear and will be investigated by the local court.
Both the deceased and a 24-year-old companion, who survived the incident, were climbing the bridge without safety harnesses or protective gear, according to sources close to the investigation.
The alarm was raised by a passing motorist who witnessed the tragedy.
The surviving companion was reported to be in a state of shock at the scene. A source said, via the Sun, that the male survivor was unable to speak at the time. They said he was still clearly shaken but is no longer at the police station and won’t be facing any criminal charges. It’s up to the local town hall to decide if he’ll face any penalties for doing something illegal, added the source.
Investigators are also considering whether recent heavy rains, which could have made the bridge's surfaces more slippery, played a role in the incident.
It is not yet known if the two British men had traveled to Spain specifically for this stunt. They had been using a rental car to get around the area. Spanish police have not disclosed further details regarding the deceased.
The Castilla-La Mancha Bridge has been the site of previous dangerous stunts, with local police reporting other cases of individuals climbing the structure to film for social media.
In one instance last year, two bloggers were reported for climbing the bridge without protection and posting the footage online.
Local councillor Macarena Muñoz confirmed the tragic incident and reiterated that climbing the bridge is strictly prohibited.
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